Mycoplasma pneumoniae induces IL-1β production through activating NLRP3 inflammasome by ROS in RAW264.7 cells

AIM: To investigate whether Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp)-induced interleukin-1β (IL-1β) production in RAW264.7 cells is through the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome via reactive oxygen species (ROS). ME-THODS: RAW264.7 cells were randomly divided into 3 groups. In normal group, RAW264.7 cells were treated without Mp. In model group, RAW264.7 cells were treated with 1∶ 10 multiplicity of infection (MOI) of Mp. In NAC group, RAW264.7 cells were pretreated with N- acetylcysteine (NAC) at a concentration of 5 mmol/L for 30 min before infection with Mp. The RAW264.7cells were infected with Mp (1∶ 10 MOI) for 4, 8, 16 and 24 h in model group and NAC group, respectively. The intracellular ROS level was analyzed by flow cytometry. The mRNA expressions of NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1 were detected by real-time PCR. The protein levels of NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1 p20 were determined by Western blot. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β in the supernatant were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Compared with normal group, the production of ROS were significantly increased at 4, 8, 16 and 24 h after infection, the mRNA expression of NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1 were increased at 8, 16 and 24 h after infection, the protein levels of NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1 p20 were increased at 16 and 24 h after infection, and the releases of IL-1β were increased at 24 h after infection in model group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the level of ROS in NAC group decreased, so as the expression of NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1 at mRNA and protein levels and the releases of IL-1β in the supernatant at the corresponding time points. CONCLUSION: Mp may stimulate the ROS production to activate NLRP3 inflammasome in RAW264.7 cells.     

抚育间伐对燕山北部山区山杨林物种多样性的影响

为了了解抚育间伐对燕山北部山区山杨林物种多样性的影响,对山杨林抚育间伐前后的物种多样性进行了调查和分析,结果表明:抚育后林地草本植物的物种多样性高于未抚育林地,抚育间伐林地草本植物的Patrick指数、Margarlef指数、Simpson指数和Shannon-Wiener指数分别为35.0、6.13、0.89和2.76,未抚育样地分别为29.0、4.90、0.32和1.91;抚育林地灌木的Patrick指数、Margarlef指数、Simpson指数和Shannon-Wiener指数分别为9.0、1.41、0.43和0.98,未抚育林地则分别为8.0、1.48、0.68和1.51,除Patrick指数外,抚育林地的其他多样性指数都低于未抚育林地;抚育间伐使乔木层优势种的优势更为明显。由此得出结论,抚育间伐对山杨林的物种多样性有明显影响,但草本、灌木与乔木对抚育间伐的响应有所不同。     

Diets of endangered silver chub (Macrhybopsis storeriana,Kirtland, 1844) in Lake Erie and implications for recovery

Silver chub (Macrhybopsis storeriana, Kirtland, 1844) is a native Cyprinid in Lake Erie, one of the Laurentian Great Lakes of North America. It is listed as endangered by the US state of New York and Canada, which has a recovery plan, and as special concern by the state of Michigan. Silver chub faces a potential threat to recovery from control efforts for invasive Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella, Valenciennes 1844). Among the knowledge gaps for protection and restoration is current diet data. I describe the diet of silver chub from western Lake Erie in 2014, and I compare it to past studies to assess changes in diet through time. Silver chub captured in bottom trawls May–September 2014 were frozen in the field, and stomach contents were preserved in ethanol. Diet taxa were identified to the lowest practical taxonomic unit, then dried and weighed. Frequency of occurrence in silver chub diets was highest for Hexagenia spp. mayflies (79%). Dreissena spp. and Hexagenia spp. were both 41% of the diet by dry weight. Analysis of δ¹³C isotopes identified Hexagenia spp. as the primary source of carbon in silver chub. Compared to past studies, Dreissena spp. have mostly replaced Sphaeriidae and Gastropoda in silver chub diets. There also have been seasonal shifts in relative amounts of shelled organisms and Hexagenia spp. This study and past research suggest a functional link between silver chub and Hexagenia spp. abundance. Maintenance and recovery of silver chub may be dependent on maintaining Hexagenia spp. populations.     

福建省新分布植物记录

在第4次全国中药资源普查福建省建宁县试点县野外调查中陆续发现多个福建省地理新分布记录种,经整理鉴定,继续报道4个新分布记录种:日本金腰[Chrysosplenium japonicum(Maxim.)Makino]、赶山鞭(Hypericum attenuatum Choisy)、异堇叶碎米荠(变种)(Cardamine violifolia O.E.Schulz var.diversifolia O.E.Schulz)和杜鹃兰[Cremastra appendiculata(D.Don)Makino]。     

洛阳地区园林常绿阔叶树种资源及其应用

为了对洛阳市的生态环境建设提供参考,对洛阳地区常绿阔叶树种进行了实地调查.结果表明,洛阳地区园林中应用的常绿阔叶树种共有58种,其中,乔木9种,灌木39种、藤本4种及竹类6种;野生常绿阔叶树种10余种.并针对应用中存在的问题,提出相应的发展对策.     

黄河兰州段湿地典型植物群落物种多样性研究

以黄河兰州段分布最广泛的芦苇-假苇拂子茅群落和酸模叶蓼-灰绿藜群落为研究对象,研究2个群落的植物物种组成和多样性特征。结果表明:芦苇群落有植物22种,隶属于13科20属,酸模叶蓼群落有植物24种,隶属于11科22属,2个群落的共种有10种,相似性系数为43.48%,菊科、禾本科、藜科、蓼科是该植物区系的优势科。物种多样性的分析说明2个群落的Pielou指数(J)波动比较小,Simpson指数(D)和Shannon-Wiener指数(H)均波动都比较大,并且H指数与J指数存在明显的正比例关系,而与D指数呈显著的反比例关系。方差分析表现出两群落S,H,D和J指数的差异并不明显,说明组成两群落的物种有一定的相似性和连续性,也存在着差异。     

Livestock grazing has minimal effect on the species richness and diversity of semi-arid shrubland in the Western Little Karoo,South Africa

The Succulent Karoo, one of two arid biodiversity hotspots in the world, is known for its high plant species richness, but little is known about the influence of topography and how it mediates the potentially deleterious effects of grazing. Changes in vegetation species composition, cover and species diversity were examined along piosphere gradients on northerly slopes, bottomlands and low-lying plains on 45 farms. Landscapes differed in the plant speciesand life-form composition, species richness and cover, with the more species-rich, heterogeneous grassy northerly slopes distinct from the plains and bottomlands, which were dominated by Pteronia pallens, Psilocaulon junceum and Drosanthenum spp. with more annual and ephemeral species. Overall, species richness declined linearly with decreasing rangeland condition. A weak grazing effect was detected only on the north-facing slopes, where shrubs and grass decreased with intense grazing. Years of overgrazing have resulted in the widespread dominance of P. pallens, especially on the plains and bottomlands, rendering them insensitive to grazing. The current condition of the northern slopes should be maintained and managed such that palatable species can spread to more degraded areas of the landscape.     

Michigan Mute Swan Management: A Case Study to Understand Contentious Natural Resource Management Issues

U.S. state fish and wildlife agencies have responded to perceived ecological and social threats posed by mute swans by implementing population control strategies. In Michigan, some stakeholder groups have vocally opposed particular control activities. To better understand and characterize key aspects of the underlying media dialogue about mute swan management in Michigan, one factor in the development of public perceptions about wildlife issues, we conducted a qualitative content analysis of Michigan-specific online news articles. Results revealed tensions between stakeholder groups about management priorities were rooted in differing ideas about healthy social and ecological systems, appropriate wildlife behavior, and the acceptability of lethal control (i.e., shooting living birds). Characterizing which stakeholder groups aligned with particular arguments might allow managers to tailor and direct messaging to specific audiences.     

DNA barcoding for identification of cryptic species in the field and existing museum collections: a case study of Aethomys and Micaelamys (Rodentia: Muridae)

DNA barcoding has been proposed as a method for species identification. However, this method has been criticised for its over-reliance on a single mitochondrial gene. In this study, four mitochondrial gene regions and one nuclear gene region were used to investigate their different abilities to identify tissue associated with museum specimens of Aethomys chrysophilus, Aethomys ineptus and Micaelamys namaquensis. Aethomys chrysophilus and the more recently elevated A. ineptus are indistinguishable on morphological grounds; however, their ranges are largely parapatric with only one syntopic locality currently known. All of the mitochondrial gene regions were able to separate M. namaquensis from A. chrysophilus and A. ineptus, but they varied in their abilities to resolve differences between A. chrysophilus and A. ineptus. The sequence results identified a specimen from KwaZulu-Natal that was misclassified and should have been identified as A. ineptus. Seven specimens that had not been reclassified following the elevation of A. ineptus to species level were identified as A. ineptus. Individuals of A. chrysophilus from Malawi could not be classified as either A. chrysophilus or A. ineptus, and may be a hybrid or a new, distinct species. This study indicates that DNA barcoding may be used to separate M. namaquensis from A. chrysophilus and A. ineptus, and although it was not able to separate A. chrysophilus and A. ineptus, it did indicate specimens from Malawi may be a new cryptic species.